Folding square.



N0 MODEL` PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903.

J. NELSON.

FOLDING SQUARE.

APPLIOATIGN FILED NOV. 5, 1902.

Patented August 4, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN NELSON, OF WARSAW, INDIANA.

FOLDING SQUARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 35,136, dated August 4, 1903.

Application led November 5, 1902. Serial No. 130,180. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t mrt-y concern.-

Be it known that I, JONATHAN NELSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Warsaw, 'in the county of Kosci.- usko and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Squares, of which the following is a specication.

The main objects of my invention are to provide an improved form of square adapted to be readily folded into compact form and to have its arms locked at right angles to each other and to provide simple means for readily changing the graduations along the measuring edges of such square. I accomplish these objects by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan, partly broken away, of a square constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 isa top plan, partly broken away, showing the parts of same in their folded position. Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a top plan, partly broken away, of a scale adapted to be secured alon gone of the measuring edges of the square for the purpose of providing said edge with dierent graduations.

The device shown consists of two members 1 and 2, pivotally connected together at 4 and normally held at right angles to each other by means of a gusset 5. The members 1 and 2 are suitably graduated along their measuring edges 6. The members 1 and 2 are normally disposed at right angles with each other and preferably lie in the same plane. The member 1 has rigidly secured thereto a projecting tongue 7, to which the member 2 is pivotally connected by means of a rivet at 4:. The member 2 is reinforced at the end of same which is adjacent to the member 1 by a pair of face-plates 8, which are preferably set into and iiush with the upper and lower surfaces of the member 2. The face-plates 8 are provided with suitable apertures 9 for receiving the rivet at 4L and are rounded od at 10 to permit the members 1 and 2 to be folded together, as in Fig. 2. The end 11 of the member 2 is at right angles to the length of said member and forms a stop, which limits the unfolding of said members to the angle shown in Fig. 1. The member 1 is also provided with reinforcing-plates 12 and 13 at edge 6 of one of the members 1 or 2.

the part which is adjacent to the member 2. The plate 13 is preferably of resilient material and has a part 5 extending from its inner edge and forming a gusset for securing the members 1 and 2 in theirl unfolded position. The plate 13 is oifset at 14, so as to normally assume the position shown in Fig. 3, with its edge 15 in engagement with the inner edge 16 of one of the plates 8. The gusset 5 is adapted to be sprung out of engagement with said plate 8, and thus permit the members 1 and 2 to be folded upon each other, asin Fig. 2.

The member 1 is preferably provided with a projecting pin or lug 17, which is located at a point equally distant from the measuring edges of the members 1 and 2, and each of the members 1 and 2 is provided with'one or more spring-clips 18 for coacting with the lug 17 in holding scales 19 with dierent graduations. A plurality of the scales 19 will be provided for the purpose of changing the graduations to be used along the measuring edges of the members 1 and 2. One of these scalesis shown in Fig. 4. The scales 19 are of a length corresponding to the members l and 2 and are provided at each end with an aperture which is suitably located to engage the lug 17 when either of the measuring edges 2l of the scale 19 is in proper position along the measuring The scales 19 are secured to the members 1 and 2 by means of the spring-clips 18. It will be seen that if graduated on both edges of each side one scale 19 is suitable for making four changes in the graduations of its corresponding member 1 or 2.

The operation of the device shown is as follows: When in use, the members l and 2 are normally disposed at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to fold the square, it is only necessary to press the gusset 5 upward out of engagement with the edge 16 of the plate `8, when the members 1 and 2 may be folded together, with the gusset 5 overlapping the plate 8, as in Fig. 2.

To change the graduations to be used along one of the edges 6, the scale 19 is placed with the desired graduations extending along saidY edge 6, the corresponding aperture 2O being placed over the lug 17 and the scale.19 being held into close contact with the square by means of the spring-clipslS;

IOO

It Will be'seenY that some of the details of the construction shown may be altered without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not con fine myself to such details except as hereinafter limited in the claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A square,comprising two members lying in substantially the same plane, one of said members being pivoted at one end to the second member on an axis transverse to the plane oi' said members; a stop on one of said members adapted to limit the unfolding of said members to a certain angle; and a movable spring-plate secured to one of said members, normally urged into the plane of said members, between same, and adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the other member and secure same at such angle, substantially as described.

2. A square, comprising two members pivotally connected together and adapted to fold upon each other; a suitable stop on one of said members adapted to limit the unfolding of said members to a certain angle; and a movable gusset secured to one of said members, being normally urged into the plane of the other and adapted When lying in such plane to secure said members at such angle, substantially as described.

3. A square, comprising two members lying in substantially the same plane, one of said members being pivoted at one end to the second member on an aXis transverse to the plane of said members; a stop on one of sai-d members adapted to limit the unfolding of said members to a certain angle; a movable gusset secured to one of said members, said gusset being normally urged into the plane other member and secure same at such angle,

substantially as described.

4. A square, comprising two members pivotally connected together and adapted to fold upon each other; a suitable stop on one of said members adapted to limit the unfolding of said members to a certain angle; and a movable spring-plate secured to one of said members, projecting from its inner edge toward the other member and being normally urged into suitable position to engage said members at such angle, substantially as described.

5. A square, comprising two members pivotally connected together and adapted to fold upon each other, a suitable stop on one of said members adapted to limit the unfolding of said members to a certain angle; a springcatch adapted to rigidly secure said members at such angle; a pin projecting from oneface of one of said members and located at a point equally distant from the measuring edges of each of said members when same are in the unfolded position; a graduated scale; a suitable clip on each of said members for detachably securing said scale along the measuring edge of same; said scale having therein an aperture adapted to engage said pin and thereby determine the longitudinal position of said scale on said member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Chicago this 30th day of October, 1902. Y

JONATHAN NELSON. Witnesses:

WM. R. RUMMLER, O. A. GoLDsBERRY. 

